Variable speed drive system



Feb. 6v, 1940. T PFLEGER 2,189,295

VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM Filed July 1l, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR f' BY ATTORNEY Feb.r6, 1949i. G. T. PFLEGER n 2,189,295

VARIABLE SPED DRIVE SYSTEM I Filed July 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii. f,

K' y@ Pf er BY M/ v ATTORNEY Patented Feb..6, 194i) a PATENT OFFICE VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE SYSTEM George T. Plieger, Los Angeles, assigner to U. S. Electrical Motors, Inc.. a corporation of California Application July 11, 193s, serial No. siassr z3 claims.

This variation .in diameter is obtained by pro-- viding a pulley' structure having a pair of sections with opposed inclined faces, the sections l being-relatively movable in an axial direction.

The inclined faces are respectively engaged by the sides of a flexible V-belt, and when the faces are at a maximum distance apart, the belt can enter between them to form a minimum diameter pulley drive. When the faces are brought closer together, the belt is moved radially outwardly, and the eective pulley diameter is correspondingly increased.

In the present invention, the motor shaft carries a variable pulley structure, in which the separation of the sections is secured by a positive adjustment. This structure forms a driving pulley. 'Ihe driven pulley has a fixed diameter. In order to keep the belt tight at all times', the

motor is movably mounted on a guide whereby the center distance between the driven and driving pulleys can be automatically varied, as by the aid of a spring or other equivalent resilient means.

. This application a continuation in part of a prior application, Serial ANumber 667,387, filed April 22, 1933, and entitled Variable speed electric motor drive. It is one of the objects of the invention to improve in general, motor drivesof this character.

It is another object of the invention. to provide a resilient force for urging the centers apart between the driving and driven structures with a force that is determined by theI load imposed i0 upon the motor. In this way, the frictional force tending to keep the belt from slipping is made ample for all conditions of operation., and is not excessive for light loads.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a guide for the movement of the ,motor or the variable pulley structure, so arranged that the entire pulley structure is kept'in alinement with the fixed diameter pulley, even if one of the sections of the variable pulley structure is axially fixed.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms shall now be described in detail, which illustrate the gen-y eral principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not 5 to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined -by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, 0f 10 a variable speed transmission device incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1, but omitting the motor;

Fig. 3 is a. detail section taken along plane15 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modified form of the invention.

The main support for the entire mechanism is shown'by a supporting member I. This sup- 20 porting member I supports bearing standards 2 and 3 in which is appropriately journalled a driven shaft I. Upon this driven shaft is rigidly fastened, as by a key or set screw, or both, a fixed diameter pulley 5. Any appropriate load 25 can be driven by shaft 4, which can be extended i as shown, beyond the bearings, for this purpose.

Pulley 5 is shown as having a grooved or angled face 6. The inclined faces of this pulley are engaged by a exible V-belt l, in order t0 30 be placed in driving relation with a driving pulley structure 8.

The driving pulley structure 8 hasa variable effective diameter, and is in driving relation with shaft 9 of an electric motor I 0, or other 35 source of motion. This electric motor, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, has a frame with end bearing supports Il and I2. The shaft 9 is appropriately journalled in these bearing supports, as by the aid of the ball bearing structures I3 and 40 I4. The shaft 9 extends out of the bearing support I2 to accommodate the variable pulley structure 8. This pulley structure includes an axially fixed section I5 having an inclined face I6. It is fixed to shaft 9 as by the aid of a key 45 II and set screw I8. Y

I'he corresponding pulley section I9 ,has an inclined face 20 opposed to the inclined falce I6, and forming therewith a seat for the flexible belt 1.

Pulley section I9 is axially adjustable in a 50 manner to be hereinafter described. In this way this section I9 can be brought closer to section I5 or farther apart. In the position shownin Fig. 1, the section I9 is substantially at its maximum distance from section I6, forming thereby 55 a minimum effective diameter, because the belt 1 is allowed to move radially inwardly with respect toA the axis of the pul'rey, or until the sides of the belt 1 engage the inclined faces.

However, if section I9 is moved toward the right, the eilective pulley diameter of structure 8 is increased, because then the flexible belt 1 must move radially outwardly lwith respect to the axis of structure v8.

Before detailing the manner in which this outward radial movement of the belt is obtained.4

the mechanism for adjusting the position of section I9 will be described. For this purpose the shaft 9 is made hollow. Into the shaft extends a rod 2|. This rod at its right hand end is freely slidable in a. reduced aperture in the right hand end of shaft 9, and is provided with an enlargement or collar 22 at its left hand end, for sliding engagement with the interior of the shaft.

Rod 2I, furthermore, is in mechanical connection with the hub 23 of section I9. This mechanical connection can be'accomplished as by the aid' of a pin 24 extending through the rod 2l and the hub 23, and .passing through elongated slots 25 in shaft 9. It is apparent that the length of these slots determines the limits of relative axial movement of section.l9 with respect to the section I5. The pin 24 is in driving relation with the shaft 9 by virtue of the slot construction, the slots effectively preventing relative angular motion of section I9 with respect `2I so that by screwing stud 26 inwardly, the rod 2I is urged to the left. If necessary a long wearing washer can be interposed` between stud 26 and rod 2 I.

Upon retraction of stud 26 outwardly of the hollow shaft, 9, the section I9 is free to move away from section I5.

In order to take up the resultant slack in the belt when stud 26 is screwed outwardly with respect to the shaft 9, use is made of a resilient force, urging the entire pulley structure 8 away from the axis of shaft 4, causing a larger separation between the axes of the driving and driven shafts. In` other words, the center distance is increased by the resilient force. Accordingly,

this resilient force will cause the belt 1 to exert a, force toward the left on the movable section I9 until this motion is stopped by contact of the left hand end of rodl 2l with the end of the stud In this instance, since the hollow shaft 9 forms the shaft of the motor I0, the entire motor is movably mounted on appropriate guides. These.

guides 'are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as rails 28 formedr in this instance integral with the base I.

These rails engage grooves in the bottom of the which extends loosely into the motor support 29.-

'I'he corresponding end of the spring 30 abuts against the contiguous surface of the support 29;

and its other end abuts against a shoulder 32 formed integrally with the guide bar 3|. In the present instance, in order to vary the force of the spring 30, an enlarged portion 33 of the guide rod 3| is shown as threaded into an upright boss 34 and it can be manipulated as Aby a hand wheel 35.'

the belt 1 would not stay in alignment. 'I'his is true because as the axis of shaft 9 moves away from the axis of shaft 4, the belt 1 would move towardthe left as viewed in Fig. 1 since. the slope of the axially fixed face I 6 is toward the left. In order to compensate of this effect, and to keep'the belt 1 in substantially alignment at all. times between the two pulley structures, the rails slant in a direction opposite to the movement that would be given to the belt by its engagement with `the face I6.v This slanting position is shown in Fig. l, and is such as to maintain the belt continually in substantial alignment irrespective of the center distance between the shafts.

It has been found that the correct slope of the guides 28 is dependent upon the physical dimensions of the apparatus, such as the center distance between the shafts, the angle of inclination of the pulley faces, and the relative diameters of the two pulleys. If we denote by an angle a Fig. l) the inclination of the guide 28 to a line drawn perpendicular to the axes of the shafts, and if we likewise denote by angle b the inclination of the pulley face tothe same perpendicular line, then it may be stated that as a result of observations, the ratio of the tangent of angle a to the tangent of angle b should lie between narrow limits in order to keep the belt substantially in alignment. These limits for practical designs of relative pulley diameters and center distances should fall between the values of .400 and .800. The lower limit of .400 corresponds to a condition where the variable pulley structure has a diameter materially larger than the diameter of the driven pulley, while the higher limit of. .800 corresponds to a condition where the variable pulley structure has a considerably smaller diameter than the xed diameter pulley. Where the pulley diameters are about the same order, and where the center distance spacing isconsiderable, a mean value of .640 for the ratio of these tangents is suitable. Under such circumstances, the variations in center distance and in the corresponding pulley diameters do not cause any appreciable belt misalignment.

The operation of the device as so far described can now be set forth. If it is desired to increase the diameter of pulley structure 8, the screw 25 is turned inwardly to urge rod 2l and section I9 toward the right. In so doing, the center distance between the shafts must be decreased, since the arc of contact between the belt 1 and the pulley structure 8 is increased. Accordingly, spring 30 is compressed and the entire pulley structure and motor I move downwardly on the guides, 28. It is thus clear that movement of screw member 26 inwardly is translated into a compression of the spring 30.

To reduce the pulley diameters, the screw 26 is moved outwardly. Under such circumstances the spring 30 is allowed to expand, because it can now force motor I0 upwardly as viewed in Fig. l,

causing rod 2| to follow the withdrawal of screw 2B. This rod is urged toward the left because of the engagement of the pulley face 20 with the leit hand side of the belt 1.

At times when the load varies rapidly, or in the event vof a rather sudden change in pulley diameter, a slight oscillation of the motor I on the rails 28 may occur. In order to damp such possible oscillations, use is made of a dash pot arrangement, shown to best advantage in Figs.

2 and 3. In the present instance, this dash pot comprises a cylinder 35 fastened to the top of the base l in a horizontal position. This cylinder can be filled with oil or other equivalent incompressible fluid, as by the aid of a fill pipe 31. Working in the cylinder 35 is a piston 38. The stem 39 of this piston is fastened to the moving support 2s of the motor lil. Oil is permitted to pass from one side to the other of piston 38 only through a restricted passageway, such as leakage past the edges of the piston, or through a constricted passageway M. It is thusA apparent that sudden jerks of the motor I on the guides 28 are effectively prevented, because an appreciable time must elapse for any material movement of piston 35 inside of the cylinder 35.

In the form of the invention as just described the resilient force tending to separate the ax'es of the shafts in order to increase the center distance is provided by a spring. However, other resilient mechanisms can be provided. For example, lin Fig. 4 a fluid pressure cylinder i is shown which can be substituted for both the dash pot 35 and spring 30. d This cylinder can be kept lled as by the aid of a fill pipe 42. Working in cylinder M is a piston 43 joined as by the stem 44 to the sliding base 29 of the motor. Although there may be leakage from one side of the piston 43 to the other as by the aid of a constricted passageway 45, yet if the fluid in cylinder 4l is kept under pressure it will exert a force on piston 43 toward the right because the left hand surface of piston 43 is greater than the right hand surface. There is thus a preponderance of preserates as a dash pot, due to the use of the passageway 45. y It is thus seen that all that is necessary is to providefg'fluid pressure inside of cylinder 4I, to create a belt tightening force. This can be accomplished for example by the aid of an auxiliary cylinder 45 and a piston 41, the interior of the cylinder 45 being in communication with cylinder 4| as by a conduit 48. Pressure can be exerted upon piston 41 to create the required fluid pressure. This can be accomplished by the aid of a lever 49 having a stationary pivot 50 and a link connection to piston 41.

In the present instance it is preferred that this fluid pressure be varied in accordance with the conditions of energization of the motor I0. For this purpose the lever 49 carries a core 52 acted upon by an electromagnet or solenoid 53. This electromagnet can be so arranged that it is not l energized until motor l0 is energized, as bythe aid of the switch mechanism 54. Thus while the motor lil Ais inactive there is no force tending to urge the motor along the guides 28. However, as soon as switch 54 is closed, both the solenoid 55 and the motor lll are energized. VIn the present instance the solenoid is in series with one of the leads supplying current to motor I0. In this way, as the load on the motor I0 increases the pull on the magnet 55 increases, with a corresponding increase in pressure in cylinder 4I. 'I'his is useful becausethis increase in pressure corresponds to greater pressure between the sides of belt 1 and the inclined faces I5 and 20 of pulley structure 5 whereby danger of slipping at heavy loads is minimized.

I claim:

1. In a system of the character described, a fixed vdiameter pulley, a variable diameter pulley structure in driving relation to said fixed diameter pulley, said structure having a pair of sections with opposed inclined faces, a shaft to which one of the sections is axially iixed, means for positively adjusting the axial position of the other section, a flexible belt between the pulley and the structure, a. support for the pulley structure, said sup port forming a guide for movement of the pulley structure in a direction to vary the center distance between the fixed diameter pulley and the variable diameter structure, as well as in a direction to keep the belt in substantial alignment, resilient means for adjusting the center distance betweenthe axes of said pulleys in response to the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley, and means restricting the rate of change of said center distance between the axes of said pulleys, said last mentioned means acting independently of the means adjusting the pulley diameter.

2. In a variable speed drive having a driving pulley structure, a -driven pulley structure, an electric motor connected to the driving pulley structure, said -driving pulley structure having a positively adjustable effective diameter, and a belt connecting the structures, the center distance between the structures being variable, the combination therewith of yielding means for adjusting the center distance between the axes oi said pulleys in response to the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley, and means for increasing the force exerted by said yielding means, responsive to the energization of the motor.

3. In a variable speed drive having a driving pulley structure, a driven pulley structure, an electric motor connected to the driving pulley structure, said driving pulley structure having a positively adjustable effective diameter, and a belt connecting the structures, the center distance between the structures being variable, the combination therewith of yielding means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulleys in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley, and means, acting in accordance with the variation of the motor load, to increase the force exerted by said yielding means.

4. Ina variable speed drive having a driving pulley structure, a driven pulley structure, an electric motor connected to the driving pulley structure, said driving pulley structure having a positively adjustable effective diameter, and a belt connecting the structures, the center disbelt .connecting the structures, the center distance between the structures being variable, the

combination therewith of fluid pressure means urging the structures apart tending to increase the center distance, and means for increasing the uid pressure in accordance with the energization of the motor.

6.'In a variable speed drive having a driving pulley structure, a driven pulley structure, an electric motor connected to the driving pulley structure, said driving pulley structure having a. positively adjustable eiective diameter, and a belt connecting the structures, the center distance between the structures being variable, the combination therewith of fluid pressure means urging the structures apart tending to increase the center distance, and means, acting in accordance with the variation of the motor load, to increase the fluid pressure.

7. In a variable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and to a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley structures having a positively adjustable eiective diameter and including a pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the axial positions of said pulley sections by substantially equal and opposite amounts with respect to the driving belt, resilient means for adjustingthe center distance between the axes of said pulley structure in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley structure, and means for restricting the rate of change of said center distance between the axes of said pulley structures.

8. In a variable speed drive 'having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and to a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley structures having a positively adjustable eil'ective diameter and including a pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the axial positions o said pulley sections by substantially equal `and opposite amounts with respect to the driving belt, a spring Yfor adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in response to the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley structure, and means for restricting the relative velocity of said structures in a center distance varying direction.

9. In a variable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and to a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley structures having a positively adjustable effective diameter and including a pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the axial positions of said pulley sections by substantially equal and opposite amounts with respect' to the driving belt, resilient means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of. said variable diameter pulley structure,'and a dash p ot for damping the relative movement of the structures in a center distance varying direction.

10. In a variable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and to a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley structures having a. positively adjustable effective diameter, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of fluid pressure means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance withv the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley.

11. Inl a variable speed `drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and to a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley structures having a positively adjustable eiective diameter, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of uid pressure means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley and means for varying the force exerted by said iiuid pressure device.

12. In a variable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a drivingpulley structure and t a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley structures having a positively adjustable effective diameter, and the center distance between the axes ci said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of yielding means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structure in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley structure, and electroresponsive means for varying the force exerted by said yielding means.

13. In a variable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and to a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley` structures having a positively adjustable eective diameter, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of fluid pressure means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley, and a solenoid for varying the fluid pressure exerted by said uid pressure means.

14. In avariable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and to a driven pulley structure,

one of said pulley structures having an adjustable I effective diameter, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of tluid pressure means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley structure, said fluid pressure means including a pair of variable volume chambers, means forming a passage'connecting said chambers, a volume of fluid enclosed by said chambers and said passage, means actuated in response to a change in the volume of one of said chambers for adjusting said center distance between the axes of said pulley structures, and means for adjusting the volume of the other of said chambers.

15. The structure as set forth in claim 14, in which said passage provides means for restricting the rate of change oi said center distance.

16. The structure as set forth in claim 14, in which additional means are provided for restricting the rate of change of said center distance.

17. The structure as set forth in claim 14, in which additional means are provided for varying the volume of liquid enclosed by said variable volume chambers and said connecting passage.

18. In an adjustable speed drive, a driving pulley structure, a driven pulley structure, a belt in active power transmitting relation to said pulley structures, one of said pulley structures vhaving an adjustable effective diameter, said adjustable diameter pulley structure having a pair of pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, a shaft to which one ofthe pulley sections is axially iixed, means for positively adjusting the axial position of the other pulley section, a support for one of the pulley structures, said support forming a guide for the movement of the supported pulley structure in a direction to vary the center distance between the two pulley structures, as well as in a direction to keep the belt in substantial alignment, resilient means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of said adjustable diameter pulley structure, and means restricting the rate of change of said center distance between the axes of said pulley structure.

19. In an adjustable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation to a driving pulley structure and a driven pulley structure, one

\ of said pulley structures having a variable 'effective diameter and including a pairof pulley sections with opposed inclined faces, and the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of means for adjusting the relative axial position of said pulley sections and iiuid pressure means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures simultaneously with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley structures.

20. In an adjustable speed drive having a driving pulley structure, a driven pulley structure, a belt in active power transmitting relation to said pulley structures, one of said pulley structures .having a positively adjustable effective diameter,

the center distance between the pulley structure being variable, the combination therewith of yielding means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley structure, and means acting in accordance with the power transmitted, to increase the force exerted by said yielding means. i

21. In an adjustable speed drive, a driving pulley structure, a driven pulley structure. a belt in active power transmitting relation to said pulley structures, one of said pulley structures having an adjustable effective diameter, said adjustable diameter pulley structure having a pair of pulley a direction to keep the belt in substantial align-` ment, means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of said adjustable diameter pulley structure, and means for restricting the -rate oi' change of said center distance between the axes of said pulley structures.

22. In a variable speed drive having a belt in active power transmitting relation tol a driving pulley structure and a driven pulley structure, one of said pulley structures having an adjustable effective diameter, and the center'distance between the axes of said pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith ofiiuid pressure means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures, and means lfor varying the force exerted by said fluid pressure means.

23. In an adjustable speed drive having a driving `pulley structure, a driven pulley structure, a belt in active power transmitting relation to said pulley structures, an electric motor connected to the driving pulley structures, one of said pulley structures having a positively adjustable effective diameter, and the center distance between the pulley structures being variable, the combination therewith of yielding means for adjusting the center distance between the axes of said pulley structures in accordance with the adjustment of said variable diameter pulley structure, and means for increasing the force excited by said yielding means in accordance-with the energization of the motor.

GEORGE T. PFLEGER. 

